Transform your IBM i applications with Fresche’s phased approach to simplify maintenance, support future change, and preserve the business logic built into your business over time.
IBM i application modernization is the process of updating legacy applications so they are easier to maintain, extend, and support over time. Fresche helps teams do this by modernizing RPG, COBOL, and Synon applications, converting legacy code to maintainable Java or .NET, and supporting broader changes like database, UI, API, and cloud modernization. Work is delivered in phases, so you can start with the code that matters most and expand from there.
Your IBM i applications hold decades of business logic that runs your operations. Modernizing that code protects the value you’ve already built, while making it easier for your team to maintain, extend, and build on what you have going forward. And because it’s done in phases, you can start where it matters most without taking on a large, disruptive project.
Modern code is easier to update, so your team can respond to new business needs and deliver changes faster.
Modern languages open your applications to a wider pool of developers, giving you more flexibility in how you staff and support your systems.
Modernization documents and preserves the business rules built into your applications, so that knowledge stays with your team, not locked away in legacy code.
Modernized applications connect more easily to APIs, cloud platforms, and AI tools, and are built to scale as your needs and opportunities grow.
Send us a sample of your RPG, COBOL, or Synon code and we’ll show you what it looks like converted to modern Java or .NET.
Generic AI tools don’t know IBM i, and that’s where modernization projects go wrong: rules get missed, logic gets lost, and you end up with new code that’s just as hard to work with as the old code. Fresche’s purpose-built modernization tools were built specifically for IBM i, so nothing gets lost in the conversion and your applications come out the other side actually easier to maintain.
Shows you exactly what’s inside your applications, the dependencies, data, and business rules, before any code changes are made.
Converts RPG, COBOL, and Synon applications to modern Java in a fraction of the time it would take to rewrite them by hand.
Watch this Fresche Talks episode for a live Q&A on what it really takes to modernize RPG and COBOL applications with AI at scale.
IBM i application modernization is the process of updating legacy applications so they are easier to maintain, extend, and support over time. That can include modernizing RPG, COBOL, or Synon applications, improving architecture, exposing APIs, updating databases and user interfaces, or converting legacy code to a more maintainable language such as Java. Read our blog on IBM i modernization best practices for more information.
Fresche helps organizations modernize legacy IBM i applications by analyzing existing systems, documenting dependencies and business rules, and transforming RPG, COBOL, and Synon code into more maintainable modern architectures. Depending on the project, that can include RPG to Java conversion, Synon modernization, database modernization, UI modernization, API enablement, and phased modernization services.
Yes. A phased approach is often the safest way to modernize IBM i applications. Instead of attempting a full rewrite all at once, organizations can start with the applications, modules, or workflows that matter most, validate outcomes early, and expand from there. This lowers risk, reduces disruption, and helps teams show progress sooner. Watch the webinar, “Quick Wins with Phased IBM i Modernization” for tips on where to start.
RPG to Java conversion is the process of transforming legacy RPG applications into a modern Java architecture that is easier to maintain, integrate, and staff over time. It makes sense when organizations want to reduce dependence on scarce RPG skills, improve maintainability, support API and cloud integration more easily, or create a stronger foundation for future application changes. Read more about the Fresche X-Modernize AI Platform here.
Not always. Converting fixed-format RPG to free-format can be a strong first step because it improves readability and maintainability while staying on IBM i. But free-format conversion alone does not resolve every modernization challenge. Many teams also need refactoring, dependency analysis, testing improvements, API enablement, UI updates, or broader application transformation work to reduce long-term complexity. Read more here.
Generic AI tools can generate plausible-looking code, but IBM i modernization requires more than isolated code generation. Legacy IBM i applications often include nested dependencies, shared database files, embedded business rules, and coexistence requirements across old and new components. Without system-level analysis and validation, teams risk logic omissions, inconsistencies, and technical debt that are difficult to catch until much later. Learn more in this blog post.
A proof of concept is often the best starting point. Fresche offers a free POC that lets teams submit a sample of RPG, COBOL, or Synon code and see what modernization could look like in their own environment. This gives stakeholders something concrete to evaluate before committing to a broader roadmap. Learn more about costs, benefits, and ROI here.
Let’s talk about what modernizing your RPG, COBOL, or Synon applications could look like for your business. Start with one phase or the full picture, at a pace that fits your budget and timeline.
See our solutions in action.
Talk with our team about where you are and what comes next.
